Separable recombinable game controller

ABSTRACT

An exemplary game controller includes a first main body, a second main body, a first signal connection unit, a second signal connection unit and a fastening unit. The first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit are respectively secured on the first main body and the second main body, and configured for establishing communication between the first main body and the second main body. The fastening unit is installed on the first main body and configured for fastening the second main body to the first main body.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to game controllers for operating electronic games.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, game controllers have become popular input peripherals of the computer system. The game controllers facilitate users (or players) to operate various actions in electronic games. In order to meet specific requirements of the players, the designing trend of the game controllers is to be user friendly.

A common game controller generally includes a unitary main body, which facilitates single handed as well as two handed gripping and operation of the game controller by a player. With the rapid development of multimedia electronic games, a new-style electronic game having a specific requirement requires players to operate a game controller by using two hands to assume different postures. The above-mentioned common game controller is unsatisfactory for operating such new-style electronic game. Therefore, a new-style game controller having two separated main bodies is necessary so as to meet the specific requirement of the electronic game. The two separated main bodies of the new-style game controller facilitate two hands of the player to assume different postures for electronic game playing. However, in the situation whereby the player is only required to activate buttons of the separated main bodies but are not required to assume different postures when playing an electronic game, both hands of the player are still needed to respectively grip the separated main bodies. As a result this is troublesome and inconvenient.

Therefore, what is needed is a game controller which is separable as well as combinable, so as to meet specific requirements of different electronic games.

SUMMARY

A game controller, in accordance with a present embodiment, is provided. The game controller includes a first main body, a second main body, a first signal connection unit, a second signal connection unit and a fastening unit. The first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit are respectively secured on the first main body and the second main body and configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for establishing communication between the first main body and the second main body. The fastening unit is installed on the first main body and configured for fastening the second main body to the first main body.

The first main body and the second main body of the game controller are separable as well as combinable for game player and thus can be used for effectively operating various actions of the electronic games. Accordingly, the present game controller could easily meet specific requirements of various electronic games.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present game controller can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present game controller. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic, top view of a game controller, in accordance with a present embodiment, showing a first main body and a second main body of the game controller separated from each other.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, side view of the game controller of FIG. 1, showing the first main body and the second main body respectively includes a first signal connection unit and a second signal connection unit.

FIG. 3 shows the first main body and the second main body of the game controller of FIG. 2 recombined together through a fastening unit installed on the first main body.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing a data connection cable connected between the first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit.

The exemplifications set out herein illustrate various present embodiments, in various forms, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present game controller in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a game controller 10, in accordance with a present embodiment, is provided. The game controller 10 includes: a first main body 11, a second main body 12, a first signal connection unit 130, a second signal connection unit 132, a fastening unit 14 and a selectably used data connection cable 20.

The first main body 11 includes a connection end 110 and a depressed portion 112 formed at the connection end 110. Generally, user (or player) activated switches 111 are mounted on the first main body 11 and accessible from the outside of the first main body 11 for operating electronic games. A control circuit (not shown) is placed in the first main body 11 and operatively connected to the user activated switches 111 for responding to the manipulation of the switches 111 by the player.

The second main body 12 includes a connection end 120 and a protrusion portion 122 formed at the connection end 120. The protrusion portion 122 has a shape to mate with that of the depressed portion 112 of the first main body 11. Generally, user (or player) activated switches 121 are mounted on the second main body 12 and accessible from the outside of the second main body 12 for operating electronic games. A control circuit (not shown) is placed in the second main body 12 and operatively connected to the user activated switches 121 for responding to the manipulation of the switches 121 imparted by the player. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second main body 12 further includes a securing hole 124 penetrating therethrough and a signal transmission interface 126. The securing hole 124 is formed at the other end of the second main body 12 opposite to the connection end 120. The signal transmission interface 126 may be a FireWire interface or a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

The first signal connection unit 130 is secured in the depressed portion 112 and the second signal connection unit 132 is secured on the protrusion portion 122. The first signal connection unit 130 and the second signal connection unit 132 can be electronically coupled with each other by a wire to establish communication between the first main body 11 and the second main body 12. The first signal connection unit 130 and the second signal connection unit 132 can also be wirelessly connected to each other. The second signal connection unit 132 and the securing hole 124 are located on opposite sides of the second main body 12. For the purpose of illustration, the first signal connection unit 130 is a male connector while the second signal connection unit 132 is a female connector that is matable with the male connector. The male connector and the female connector may be USB connectors, respectively.

The fastening unit 14 is installed on the first main body 11. The fastening unit 14 includes a fastening portion 142, a stopper portion 143 and a fixed portion 144. The fastening portion 142 is releasable and is resiliently connected with the first main body 11 and can be retracted into the first main body 11 in a normal state. The fastening portion 142 also can be drawn out from the first main body 11 via an external force. The stopper portion 143 is retained outside of the first main body 11 and connected with one end of the fastening portion 142. The fixed portion 144 is fixed at a side of the first main body 11 opposite to the stopper portion 143. The fastening portion 142 beneficially is made of a flexible material, such as cloth, plastic or artificial fibre, etc. The stopper portion 143 and the fixed portion 144 may be velcros (i.e., a type of fastening tape) matable with each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first main body 11 and the second main body 12 of the game controller 10 are combined together, due to a fastening effect of the fastening unit 14, for operating an electronic game. In particular, the protrusion portion 122 of the second main body 12 is fitly mated/engaged with the depressed portion 112 of the first main body 11. The first signal connection unit 130 and the second signal connection unit 132 are directly connected with each other, so that hard-wired communication between the first main body 11 and the second main body 12 is established. The fastening portion 142 are drawn out from the first main body 11 and inserted through the securing hole 124, and thereafter are retained by engaging the stopper portion 143 to the fixed portion 144. As a result, the second main body 12 is firmly fastened to the first main body 11.

In this situation where the first main body 11 and the second main body 12 of the game controller 10 are being combined with each other, the first main body 11 could generate a first control signal responsive to a manipulation (e.g., activating the user activated switches 111) applied thereto by a player and send the first control signal to the second main body 12 through the first and the second signal connection units 130, 132. The first control signal would be transmitted to a game console (e.g., a computer system installed a game program) through the signal transmission interface 126 of the second main body 12, for operating corresponding actions in the electronic game. The second main body 12 could generate a second control signal responsive to a manipulation applied thereto by the player and transmit the second control signals to the game console by the signal transmission interface 126, for operating corresponding actions in the electronic game.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first main body 11 and the second main body 12 of the game controller 10 are separated from each other. In particular, the data connection cable 20 is employed to connect between the first signal connection unit 130 and the second signal connection unit 132, so as to establish a hard-wired communication between the first main body 11 and the second main body 12. When the stopper portion 143 releases from the fixed portion 144, the fastening portion 142 of the fastening unit 14 is self retracted into the first main body 11. The stopper portion 143 is stopped outside of the first main body 11.

It is understood that, the first main body 11 and the second main body 12 respectively are not limited to have the depressed portion 112 and the protrusion portion 122, the depressed portion 112 and the protrusion portion 122 being changed to be planar are appropriate as well. The stopped portion 143 and the fixed portion 144 of the fastening unit 14 are not limited to be velcros, respectively, that are matable with each other.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 

1. A game controller, comprising: a first main body; a second main body; a first signal connection unit and a second signal connection unit respectively secured on the first main body and the second main body, the first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit being configured for establishing communication between the first main body and the second main body; and a fastening unit installed on the first main body and configured for fastening the second main body to the first main body.
 2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first main body comprises a depressed portion, the second main body comprises a protrusion portion fitly matable with the depressed portion; the first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit respectively are secured in the depressed portion and on the protrusion portion.
 3. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit are configured for establishing hard-wired communication between the first main body and the second main body
 4. The game controller of claim 3, wherein the first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit respectively are a male connector and a female connector; when the first main body and the second main body being separated from each other, the male connector and the female connector are connected with each other by a data connection cable; when the first main body and the second main body being recombined together by the fastening unit, the male connector and the female connector are directly connected with each other.
 5. The game controller of claim 4, wherein the male connector and the female connector are USB connectors, respectively.
 6. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit are configured for establishing wireless communication between the first main body and the second main body.
 7. The game controller of claim 6, wherein each of the first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit is one of an infrared connector and a Bluetooth connector.
 8. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the fastening unit comprises a fastening portion, a stopper portion and a fixed portion, the fastening portion releasable and resiliently connected with the first main body and normally retracted therein, the stopper portion retained outside of the first main body and connected with an end of the fastening portion, and the fixed portion fixed at a side of the first main body and opposite to the stopper portion.
 9. The game controller of claim 8, wherein the second main body comprises a securing hole formed at an end thereof opposite to the end on which the second signal connection unit secured; when the first main body and the second main body being recombined together by the fastening unit, the fastening portion being drawn out from the first main body, inserted through the securing hole and thereafter being retained by engaging the stopper portion to the fixed portion.
 10. The game controller of claim 8, wherein the fastening portion is made of a flexible material.
 11. The game controller of claim 10, wherein the flexible material is one of cloth, plastic and artificial fibre.
 12. The game controller of claim 8, wherein the stopper portion and the fixed portion respectively are velcros that are matable with each other. 